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Braidwood Journal

The city of Braidwood is facing a dire financial situation, despite the mayor’s reassurance earlier this month that things are moving along well. And, it appears, at least part of the problem stems from a previous audit that was off by hundreds of thousands of dollars for some funds.

The Reed-Custer High School Senior Spotlight winner for the month of January is Luke Leopold.

Luke is the son of Robert and Erin Boseo.

During his high school career, Luke has been involved in Basketball, RC Chatter, and National Honor Society. He was also a mentor for an RCMS student, a Student of the Month, and was the videographer for football, basketball, and volleyball games.

Luke’s teachers said he’s a hard worker who sets a good example for his peers.

After a handful of challenges to candidate petitions, the races for mayor and commissioners are now official for the April 2, 2019 consolidated election.

Objections were filed to the nominating papers of three candidates by Braidwood resident Bruce Keller.

Those objections went before the city of Braidwood Municipal Officers Electoral Board for a determination. By state law, the local electoral board is made up of the mayor, the clerk, and the longest serving member of the City Council.

Two former Reed-Custer teachers who are each facing charges related to sex crimes and minors were inside a Will County Court last week answering to felony charges.

On Thursday, Jan. 10, former educators Kevin Macha and Dayna Chidester appeared before Judge Dave Carlson on separate cases.

Chidester, 50, who was dismissed by the Reed-Custer School District earlier this month, was arrested on Jan. 3 by Manhattan police, for allegedly engaging in a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old male.

The Reed-Custer School District has taken a defensive stance against a lawsuit alleging hazing and sexual assault inside the high school football program.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court on Nov. 28. Richard and Allison Brookman, parents of a former RCHS student, filed the suit accusing the district of engaging in and covering up hazing activity among its high school football program in the summer of 2017.

While the election this spring could mean a new leader at the helm in Braidwood, that possibility isn’t stopping the seated mayor from planning ahead.

As 2019 gets into gear, Mayor Jim Vehrs said he has plans for the city this year, including work to improve roads and infrastructure.

“We’ll see where we’re at with our MFT funds, we’ll pave some more roads,” Vehrs said of his plans for 2019. “I’d like to finish Walker Street. We’ve got a brand-new school, but we’ve got a road that’s all patched together, so we’d like to finish that.”

The former deputy chief of the Braidwood Police Department won a petition this week for a temporary restraining order (TRO), putting the brakes on the city’s plan to bring her to the Police and Fire Board for an official disciplinary ruling.

On Jan. 8, Judge John Anderson issued the TRO in the case of Michelle Soucie versus the board. On Monday, Jan. 7, attorneys for Soucie, as well as for the board, the city of Braidwood, and police Chief Nick Ficarello, made oral arguments in downtown Joliet.

Braidwood’s mayor is answering at least one outspoken critic of the city’s financial situation.

In November, former mayor and current finance commissioner candidate Bill Rulien approached members of the City Council with some questions about where exactly the city stands when it comes to its financial stability.

At the time, Rulien accused the mayor of spreading propaganda and “fake news” by giving false statements to The Braidwood Journal.

A consumer science teacher in the Reed-Custer School District remains behind bars this week, accused of multiple charges of allegedly engaging in a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old boy.

Dayna Chidester, 50, who taught consumer science and served as the sponsor for the Reed-Custer High School FCCLA program since August 2017, was arrested on Thursday, Jan. 3, by Manhattan police. She is a resident of Manhattan.